May 07, 2014 - Pope Francis held his weekly general audience in the Vatican on Wednesday,
where he talked about counsel, the third gift of the Holy Spirit. The general audience
during which the Holy Father delivers a catechesis on some spiritual or moral issue,
is an opportunity for pilgrims and tourists visiting Rome to see and hear the Pope,
and also receive his blessing. The general audience of May 7th in Rome’s St. Peter’s
Square began with aides reading a passage from the Book of Psalms. Listen:
Pope
Francis then delivered his main discourse in Italian - summaries of which were read
out by aides in various languages, including in English. But first, the aide greeted
the Pope on behalf of the English-speaking pilgrims. Listen:
… Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our continuing catechesis on
the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, we now turn to the
gift of counsel. Through this gift, God enlightens our hearts and
directs our thoughts, words and actions in accordance with his saving
will. By leading us to Jesus, and through him to the Father, the Holy
Spirit guides us in our daily interaction with others and enables us
to make right decisions in the light of faith. Through
the gift of counsel, we also grow in the virtue of prudence, learning
to overcome our self-centredness and to see all things with the eyes
of Christ. The gift of counsel, like all spiritual
gifts, needs to be cultivated through prayer, by which we become attuned
to the voice of the Spirit and conformed to the heart
of Christ. Nor does this gift enrich us as individuals alone; the Spirit also
counsels us through the lives and experiences of our brothers and sisters
in the Church. Today, as we give thanks for the gift
of counsel, let us seek to support one another along the path of faith,
as we seek to be ever more docile to the working of the
Holy Spirit in our hearts.
Pope Francis then greeted the English-speaking
pilgrims in Italian. Listen:
… Speaker: I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims taking part in today’s
Audience, including those from England and Wales, Scotland,
Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Korea, the Philippines,
China, India, Canada and the United States. Upon all
of you, and upon your families, I invoke the joy and peace of the Risen
Lord. God bless you all!(BLESSING)